Chapter 472: Fake Land Deeds

Nearly a month later.

Huaiyuan Ward.

Detai Money Shop.

Gone was the busyness of the past, replaced by a rare sense of leisure.

Old You and Old Jiang wandered behind the counter with their hands tucked, chatting together from time to time.

The shop assistants below were even less restrained, simply moving a table to a corner to play cards, the crisp sound of copper coins colliding mixing with laughter and spreading far away.

Some people crossed their legs while touching cards, some stuffed money into their pockets after winning, free and loose, without a trace of the order a money shop should have.

The door of the money shop was pushed open with a "creak."

Grand Steward Jiang Rui walked in with his hands behind his back.

Originally carrying a bit of the ease of inspection, his face sank instantly as his gaze swept over Old You and Old Jiang wandering behind the counter and the assistants playing cards in the corner, turning ashen as if quenched in ice.

"Bang!"

Jiang Rui raised his hand and slapped the counter heavily, the crisp sound of copper coins colliding stopping abruptly.

He stared at the crowd, his voice full of anger, scolding sharply: "Look at you all, why are you so idle!"

"Have the tasks for this month been completed!"

Seeing this, Old You and Old Jiang hurriedly greeted him from their respective positions.

Old Jiang ran to Jiang Rui in a few steps, his face piled with fawning smiles, repeatedly persuading: "Steward Jiang, please calm your anger!"

Old You, who was on the side, also leaned in, the smile on his face even more enthusiastic than Old Jiang's, his tone carrying a bit of unconcealable pride: "The mission has been completed, and it was over-completed!"

"That is why we were a bit loose..."

The anger on Jiang Rui's face froze instantly, as if pressed by a pause button, his eyes widening suddenly, full of disbelief.

He leaned forward half a step, his voice even higher than before, carrying undisguised shock: "What?!"

"It has already been completed, and over-completed at that?!"

Jiang Rui was not unaware of these guys using commoners to make up the numbers before...

But hindered by the completion of the task, he turned a blind eye.

How did it change all of a sudden?!

Moreover, logically speaking, the number of people borrowing usury should be getting fewer and fewer...

Old You straightened his back even more, his face full of confidence, replying decisively: "Exactly!"

As he spoke, he leaned forward and continued: "Some time ago, there were many people coming to borrow every day..."

"It could be said that we were overwhelmed!"

"Only in these few days did we have some rare leisure..."

Although it carried a hint of claiming credit, Old You was not talking nonsense.

Half a month ago, they could be said to be so busy that their feet didn't touch the ground, one left and another came...

It was only until four or five days ago that it calmed down a bit.

The shock on Jiang Rui's face gradually faded, replaced by a kind of gravity. He keenly smelled the abnormal taste, and his brows twisted into a knot instantly.

He approached a step, his tone full of anxiety, asking: "How much has been lent out?"

"What is the collateral?"

Even before, these guys used all kinds of means that couldn't be brought to the table, but they were also completing it by stepping on the line...

One must know that if something is abnormal, there must be a demon!

Old You immediately held up his right hand, his five fingers spread and then closed, gesturing back and forth at the amount, the pride on his face almost overflowing, wearing a look of waiting for praise.

He cleared his throat, deliberately raised his volume, and said loudly with extreme pride: "This time, we have lent out a full ninety-six thousand taels!"

This number was more than the whole of last year!

Moreover, the handling fees were earned in full, and immediately after, there would be a large amount of interest...

I am afraid it won't be long before the position of Grand Steward will have to be sat by me, Old You!

Maybe I can even be appreciated by big figures and rise to the top in one step...

The last trace of ease on Jiang Rui's face also disappeared, his complexion sinking with a "swish," even uglier than when he saw them playing cards just now, scolding sharply: "Bring the collateral for me to see!"

After a pause, he urged with full urgency: "Quick, hurry up!"

Old You was still immersed in his sweet dream when he was suddenly pulled back to reality by this urging. The pride on his face instantly vanished, and he hurriedly bowed his waist, saying repeatedly: "Yes, yes, this lowly one will go and fetch it right away..."

In the depths of his eyes was a flash of resentment.

Once he was promoted and appreciated, it would be his turn to order others around...

Immediately, he pulled Old Jiang, who was also stunned, and ran toward the warehouse in a panic.

After a moment, the two returned holding a stack of collateral lists and land deeds.

Old You held the things high in front of Jiang Rui with both hands, burying his head even lower: "Steward Jiang, please take a look!"

He didn't reach out to take them immediately, just lowered his eyes to glance casually at what Old You was holding—a full stack of yellowed land deed papers.

His pupils shrank suddenly, his voice even trembling, asking back in shock: "The ninety-six thousand taels lent out, the collateral are all land deeds?!"

As soon as the words fell, a strong sense of unease seized him instantly, and a bad premonition surged wildly in his heart.

Cold sweat on his temples flowed down his cheeks, and even his back was soaked, his eyes full of panic.

It was not strange for collateral to be land deeds, but for all of them to be so was a big problem...

Old You still straightened his back, replying decisively: "Exactly!"

Not realizing anything wrong at all...

Jiang Rui reached out fiercely, grabbed the land deeds Old You was holding, his fingertips trembling slightly from the force.

He hurriedly flipped open the top one, his gaze sweeping quickly over the place names and signatures on the land deed, then trembling and flipping to the next one—one, two, three...

The further down he looked, the uglier his complexion became, changing from ashen to pale, and his lips pressed into a tight line.

Old You didn't see Jiang Rui's panic, instead leaning forward, his face piled with fawning smiles, his tone full of anticipation: "Steward Jiang, you must speak more good words for me in front of the superiors!"

Old Jiang on the side also hurriedly echoed, nodding and bowing: "Yes, Steward Jiang, this is all thanks to your blessing that we could do it so smoothly. In the future, we will still have to rely on you for more promotion!"

Jiang Rui looked at the land deeds, the anger and panic in his chest could no longer be suppressed.

Immediately, he raised his hand fiercely and smashed the stack of land deeds in his hand onto Old You's face, the papers scattering all over the floor.

"Good words?" His chest heaved violently, and he roared almost hysterically, his voice full of despair and anger, "You bunch of idiots, still thinking about good words? Being able to keep your own lives is already burning high incense!"

The land deed paper hit his face, carrying a thin pain. Old You subconsciously covered his face, his eyes full of confusion, and it took a long while for him to react, asking cautiously: "What do you mean by this?"

Old Jiang and the other assistants on the side were also stunned, looking at each other, their faces full of confusion, no one dared to make a sound, only able to stand stiffly in place and look at each other.

Jiang Rui looked at their ignorant appearance, his anger grew even stronger, pointing at the land deeds scattered all over the floor, his voice trembling with anger, cursing: "Are you all stupid pigs!"

"Are your eyes blind? Can't you see that these land deeds are all fake!"

"Idiots! A bunch of stupid idiots!"

The addresses were vague, the signatures were sloppy, one look and there were problems!

"What?!"

"This can't be, right?!"

Old You finished listening, as if struck by lightning, his whole body stiffened in place, his eyes widened round, full of disbelief.

He staggered back half a step, his voice trembling, asking in shock with a hint of panic and disbelief: "They actually dared to commit fraud against our Detai Money Shop?!"

Because of the reputation and background of their own money shop, they didn't check others in detail, mainly verifying the official seals, which couldn't be truer...

How could these land deeds be forged?

Jiang Rui squeezed a cold snort from his teeth, mocking: "Otherwise!"

He raised his hand to pinch the only land deed that hadn't been smashed out, his voice sinking as if pressed by a stone: "Even this one is the only real one..."

"It's over!"

"Isn't it all over!"

Old Jiang on the side heard his whole body trembling, his complexion pale as paper, his voice carrying uncontrollable panic, almost crying: "The superiors will never let us off easily..."

Old You's complexion had long since lost any blood, stepping forward, gripping his lapel tightly with both hands, his eyes full of panic and pleading, asking urgently: "Steward Jiang, what should we do now?"

Jiang Rui took a deep breath, suppressing the panic in his heart, his teeth chattering, and he shouted sharply: "What are you still standing there for? Waiting to die here?! Hurry up and investigate!"

"The other party definitely hasn't realized that we have already noticed; everything still has room for recovery!"

The next day.

The sun at the hour of Si shone obliquely on the road of Guiyi Ward.

The wind in September carried a hint of coolness, but it couldn't blow away the murderous aura outside a residence.

Dozens of strong thugs surrounded this residence, each with a face as heavy as water, with short knives tucked at their waists.

Old You pointed at the plaque with the two characters "Cao Residence" on the lintel, the mottled wooden plaque shining coldly in the sun, and lowered his voice to Jiang Rui: "This is the Cao Residence in Guiyi Ward! Just probed it, there is someone inside..."

Jiang Rui's surrounding air pressure was terrifyingly low, his gaze like a blade quenched in ice scraping across the main gate, his teeth chattering again, and he waved his hand, his tone cold without half a temperature: "You go and smash the door open!" ===== CHAPTER 473 =====